It's a week after Rosie's wedding October 2014, and are we ready for a rest!
We are going to Crete with a view to doing some cycling and a lot of exploring, hopefully some swimming and a lot of eating and drinking. Here goes....
Tuesday 14th October 2014
Well we've arrived and it is blissfully hot! We landed at Chania airport direct from Bournemouth courtesy of Ryan Air with a 'one way ticket' and the trip could not have been easier! Phew.
Unfortunately Ryan Air stop flying back again long before we wish to come home, hence the 'one way ticket'!!
The sun was setting as we landed so we didn't feel the need to do anything too energetic, other than check in to the Amphora Hotel in old Chania town, unpack the whiskey and then find a restaurant not too far from home. The Amphora is right on the Venetian harbour and the building has stood since the 14c. Therefore it is longer on charm, than comfort but has such a great atmosphere. Fortunately the hotel also has a restaurant downstairs on the harbour front where we unwound over some good Cretan fare and watched the world go by.
We are either now very old and/or just very tired but we were completely shattered and couldn't wait to fall into our bed on it's little platform over the bathroom. (Could be a problem for any night time excursions to the loo as the stairs are as steep as being on a boat!)
Supper was 'Mediterranean' and excellent and to make it even better it seems to be 'the custom' to produce a huge plate of something sweet and sticky plus a very small decanter of raki the moment you ask for the bill. Fortunately we hadn't wanted pudding otherwise we'd have had to eat two and the raki is an excellent 'digestif'.
On a table beside us were three old Brits enjoying a week long 'pink ticket'. To our surprise they were taking life 'not too seriously' but were visiting all the places where there had been battles in WWII - it's such fun and so interesting to meet people!
Our hotel the Amphora, is the white building on the left.
Wednesday 15th October 2014.
We had felt pretty spaced last night, so had a very lazy day. Our breakfast was served on the pavement outside our hotel, in a narrow alley, and was everything it should be: freshly squeezed oranges,Greek yogurt, croissants etc. our only companions were a motley looking pigeon, a rather over-enthusiastic helper and an ancient street sweeper.
Atki Krisi, the Golden Beach, a few miles west of Chania town.
It was lovely and quiet, and the sea was very warm so not much else to report except that we bought a very nice sun hat for Alec! In the evening we went up into the old alleys, through the leather quarter and had an exceedingly good dinner at Oniro Dromio' in a street near the minaret - Just delicious, Cretan food with a touch of the orient. The old town is very busy at night, but it feels safe and there is not too much pressure from the trades people.
One thing we have already learned is that one starter will easily feed 4 people so from now on we shall be sharing - tricky seeing as we have totally different tastes, but a necessity!!
Thursday 16th October
We went even further on the bus, to Apostoli beach, which was better for swimming as the water shelved more quickly, but it was rather more populated, with too many mod cons, and we were awfully disappointed when our Greek salad arrived in a plastic container with plastic knives and forks! Tonight we walked to the further part of the inner harbour and ate a simple but good supper in Faka Restaurant. We returned home through yet more back streets and alleys, meeting only the occasional drunk!
The Amphora hotel has been great and so well placed, but we need to move on .
We are going to Crete with a view to doing some cycling and a lot of exploring, hopefully some swimming and a lot of eating and drinking. Here goes....
Tuesday 14th October 2014
Well we've arrived and it is blissfully hot! We landed at Chania airport direct from Bournemouth courtesy of Ryan Air with a 'one way ticket' and the trip could not have been easier! Phew.
Unfortunately Ryan Air stop flying back again long before we wish to come home, hence the 'one way ticket'!!
The sun was setting as we landed so we didn't feel the need to do anything too energetic, other than check in to the Amphora Hotel in old Chania town, unpack the whiskey and then find a restaurant not too far from home. The Amphora is right on the Venetian harbour and the building has stood since the 14c. Therefore it is longer on charm, than comfort but has such a great atmosphere. Fortunately the hotel also has a restaurant downstairs on the harbour front where we unwound over some good Cretan fare and watched the world go by.
We are either now very old and/or just very tired but we were completely shattered and couldn't wait to fall into our bed on it's little platform over the bathroom. (Could be a problem for any night time excursions to the loo as the stairs are as steep as being on a boat!)
Supper was 'Mediterranean' and excellent and to make it even better it seems to be 'the custom' to produce a huge plate of something sweet and sticky plus a very small decanter of raki the moment you ask for the bill. Fortunately we hadn't wanted pudding otherwise we'd have had to eat two and the raki is an excellent 'digestif'.
On a table beside us were three old Brits enjoying a week long 'pink ticket'. To our surprise they were taking life 'not too seriously' but were visiting all the places where there had been battles in WWII - it's such fun and so interesting to meet people!
Our hotel the Amphora, is the white building on the left.
Wednesday 15th October 2014.
We had felt pretty spaced last night, so had a very lazy day. Our breakfast was served on the pavement outside our hotel, in a narrow alley, and was everything it should be: freshly squeezed oranges,Greek yogurt, croissants etc. our only companions were a motley looking pigeon, a rather over-enthusiastic helper and an ancient street sweeper.
Our hotel courtyard
Anita, our receptionist told us how to get to the nearest beach by bus, so we duly did and ended up at
Atki Krisi, the Golden Beach, a few miles west of Chania town.
It was lovely and quiet, and the sea was very warm so not much else to report except that we bought a very nice sun hat for Alec! In the evening we went up into the old alleys, through the leather quarter and had an exceedingly good dinner at Oniro Dromio' in a street near the minaret - Just delicious, Cretan food with a touch of the orient. The old town is very busy at night, but it feels safe and there is not too much pressure from the trades people.
One thing we have already learned is that one starter will easily feed 4 people so from now on we shall be sharing - tricky seeing as we have totally different tastes, but a necessity!!
Thursday 16th October
We went even further on the bus, to Apostoli beach, which was better for swimming as the water shelved more quickly, but it was rather more populated, with too many mod cons, and we were awfully disappointed when our Greek salad arrived in a plastic container with plastic knives and forks! Tonight we walked to the further part of the inner harbour and ate a simple but good supper in Faka Restaurant. We returned home through yet more back streets and alleys, meeting only the occasional drunk!
The Amphora hotel has been great and so well placed, but we need to move on .
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View from the hotel of the ancient mosque.
Vivi on the old Venetian walls
